I had a hard time staying focused on this book in the beginning although I don't really know why. There are many characters, some of whose names are so similar that I kept getting confused. For instance the missing girl's mother is named Emily and her step-mother is named Elena, and both are divorced from her father. When I was done reading the book I went back and re-read some of the first few chapters but I still don't know why I had such a problem. I suspect I'm just burned out as far as this trope is concerned.

After about 50% I had settled into the story and had most of the characters straight in my mind so I did enjoy it more. The book was well written and a fairly easy read but I didn't care much for the way it ended. I can't say that I "liked" any of the characters but a few of them had some depth to them and I had my suspicions of who was the guilty party. I would probably read another book in this series.

My thanks to Level Best Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published October 25, 2022.

I read Hidden Pieces about two months ago while I was recovering from Covid. I was excited about the mystery aspect of the story at first, but then things got a little too weird for me. So many characters with things to hide when a young teen is missing. When it comes down to it, there were too many different things happening in this story- a missing teen turned abduction, a secret relationship, suicide, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and mental health issues. It was all a little too much and too unbelievable for me. I think this story could have been better with some editing and with fewer plot points that didn’t mix well. Note to self- maybe this isn’t the genre for me.

This book is out today. Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher Level Best Books for the arc.

When events in the past just won't let you go.
After losing his young daughter to cancer and his wife to divorce, the feelings of failure are too strong for sheriff Jax Turner to continue living. One the brink of ending it all, Jax gets a call on his radio that a fourteen-year-old girl is missing and he's needed right away. Twenty-five years ago two young girls went missing and only one was found alive. With that history, Jax knows he can't let it happen again and is determined to find the girl. When clues arise that seem to tie the old case to the new, the stakes grow considerably larger. What happens next is both compelling and thrilling.

Well, the Misty Pines Mystery series is off to a great start! I always enjoy well drawn, flawed protagonists and Jax fits the bill. The story grows in suspense and intrigue as deadlines approach and the plot thickens. The big twist and reveal in the end caught me by surprise and kinda had me shaking my head in a good way.

If you enjoy getting in on the ground floor of a series, one that kept me entertained from start to finish, I recommend you add this to your TBR list.

An enjoyable enough read which got better as it went along. I had a bit of trouble gettting into the book, which might have been me and the mood I was in, or it could have been that the book was slow to get going and didn't immediately grab my attention. Probably a bit of both.

The main character, Sheriff Jax Turner has his issues and in fact is just about to kill himself when he gets a call about a missing girl. I suppose it made a change from the usual narrative of the hard-drinking, troubled protagonist, but it was still a bit of a cliche. As the book goes along we get his backstory of grief and loss with child bereavement and divorce.

A teenage girl has disappeared on her way to school. The clock is ticking. An urgent investigation kicks off involving family, friends, and community. Everyone seems to have secrets, including the missing girl and everyone including the girl's mother is less than straight with Turner. Information is not readily forthcoming. Turner also has to contend with the small town big man, the guy with money, power and influence who isn't happy with Turner questioning his son, a boy who has a connection to the missing girl. Threats are issued over Turner's badge, all of which is a distraction from the man doing his job.

There's some history involved as well, with a connection to an unsolved murder years ago when Turner was a homicide detective with a different police force. Obviously it's the case that haunts Turner, the one that was never resolved where another girl was failed. Or so he feels. The previous case impacts on the present and Turner believes it's a solve one, solve both situation, only this time the imperative is that the girl is saved.

I liked the book better the more I read. There were several twists and turns to the narrative with different suspects coming to prominence, then fading as the book went on. One of the twists completely blindsided me - hats off to Keliikoa; the other I saw.

The main character grew on me as the book progressed, I sympathised with him a bit more, maybe because his head came out of his ass and he was focussing on other things as opposed to wallowing in self pity. He actually manages to let go of the past a bit.

Overall it was a decent read, one which I enjoyed and came away from thinking... yeah that was a bit different, a bit better than I initially thought.

3.5 stars from 5

Read - October, 2022
Published - 2022
Page count - 300
Source - review copy from Net Galley
Format - Kindle

I'm not sure what to say about this book that hasn't already been said... The first half was great! Really engaging and kept me interested. The second half on the other hand, completely lost me. Not sure I'll continue the series

Still despondent after losing his young daughter to cancer 5 years ago, Sheriff Jax Turner is ready to check out of the life he feels no longer holds any meaning when a call comes in reporting a missing teen-aged girl. With his trusted deputy on vacation, Jax has no choice but to take on the investigation himself, and it soon reminds him of a case he worked 25 years ago, where two young girls were kidnapped and one of them killed. Becoming more and more convinced that the killer has returned to Misty Pines, Jax knows he needs to be on his game to find the missing girl and finally solve the 25 year old murder. The plot is like a roller coaster ride, as Keliikoa dangles clues and red herrings before the investigators and readers, and the big twist was one I doubt anyone will see coming!

Sheriff Jax Turner is in a bad place and wants to end it all.
His daughter has died and his wife had left him and he feels totally alone.
But when a call comes in about a missing teenager Allison it brings back memories of a twenty five year old cold case.
Jax is determined to bring Allison back home alive.

Unfortunately the file type did not work on my kindle. The publisher was kind enough to offe a physical copy but I haven't received it yet.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC of Hidden Pieces.

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
😮 enjoy unexpected twists
🌲 live in the PNW
👩‍⚕️ are interested in psychology
🏠 love small towns

• 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄

When 14 year old Allison disappears one morning while waiting for the bus, Sheriff Jax Turner will stop at nothing to find her.

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Jax Turner has been out of it for the last 5 years. After he lost his daughter, Lulu, to cancer, he’s basically checked out. But when Allison, a 14 year old girl, goes missing, he decides he’s going to do whatever it takes to bring her home safely. As the days progress, Jax begins to realize that her case feels similar to an unsolved murder he worked while living in Portland. Soon, he begins to suspect he’s chasing the same killer, 25 years later.

Elena lost her sister Madeline to a killer 25 years ago, shortly after losing her parents in a car accident. Her brother, Steven, is all she has left. Now working as a psychologist, she begins to suspect that Steven may have kidnapped her stepdaughter, Allison, but why? She and Jax will have to work together if they want to find Allison before it’s too late.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a fast paced read that felt realistic in terms of characters and their dialogue. I liked that we got both Jax’s and Elena’s POVs at times. The ending twist was totally unexpected for me, but I wasn’t actually surprised by who the killer ended up being. I definitely enjoyed the whole ride with Jax and his hunt for Allison though. I think this would make for a fantastic film. I highly recommend if you enjoy police procedurals and thrillers!

Sheriff Jax has a missing girl in his town. The more he follows the leads the more convoluted the case becomes. Then the case twists again. Could it be possible? Is it tied to one of his very first missing persons’ crimes?

I fell for Jax right away. As a matter of fact, I fell for most of these characters. Some are broken, like Jax. And some are so real, they live in my town…I just know them.

I also enjoyed the hunt in this one! I did figure it out and there are a lot of coincidences which led to me figuring out who did what. But, with the characters and the chase, it is a pretty dang good mystery.

This is the first book in the Misty Pines series. I will definitely be on the look out for the others in this series. There is a backstory which is bound to be revealed and I want to know more!

Need a wonderful mystery with a twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I was taken for a ride, I did not believe the first red herring, but after that, it was a roller coaster! If you like mysteries, who did it, then this is a gem! I felt so much empathy for this beleaguered Sheriff, Jax Turner, when this young teenage girl goes missing, that I couldn't put it down if I had wanted to! I have slugged my way through many books this year, but not this Hidden Gem, this author kept me glued to the book, with bated breath waiting and praying for Allison to be found safe! I am a very critical reviewer, and were there minor flaws in the story? Yes, but the majority of this story are riveting, adding to a mind blowing ending! Buy it, borrow it from your Library, you won't be sorry, I promise you that! This would make a great TV miniseries!
I highly recommend! Thank you #Netgalley #IBMP
carolintallahassee

Mary Keliikoa, the author of “Hidden Pieces,” has written a complex, complicated and intense novel. The genres for this novel are Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Fiction. The author vividly describes her dramatic characters as flawed, broken, and perplexing. Some of the characters could be suspects. There are betrayals, dangers, threats, kidnapping, and murder. This is a novel with twists and turns,

Sheriff Jax Turner is in a very dark place as he contemplates suicide. His young daughter died from cancer. His marriage is ruined, and he is divorced. All he can think of is the failures of his life when a call interrupts his negative thoughts. When he receives news of a 14-year-old girl that goes missing, it reminds him of a case from 25 years earlier. The killer was never identified, and the Sheriff realizes that the young girl is in danger and time is running out.

As the Sheriff deals with many characters, he discovers drugs and an illegal trafficking problem. How will he find the missing girl and get her home? What are the motivations that have the killer return? Another problem is, who is the killer? I highly recommend that you read this novel to find out. Sometimes, you have to be able to put all the pieces together.

Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover and description really had me wanting to request this book right away. Once I started this book yesterday, I couldn’t put it down. I devoured it. The writing and suspense flowed perfectly. I had so many different theories going through my head once I was about 50% in. I really enjoyed Sheriff Jax and Elena’s characters. Elena really made this book intriguing. There were a few twists that surprised me and a few I guessed were coming. I’m adding this book to my favorite series list! Can’t wait for book 2!

This thriller starts with a bang, or almost bang - as the Sheriff of Misty Pines, Jax Turner, is called away from his attempted suicide to solve the kidnapping of a local schoolgirl.

Readers are slowly drawn to an almost unbelievable ending through much back and forth, multiple red herrings, and shocking twists! I enjoyed the background of Sheriff Jax Turner, his internal struggles and progressions, as well as the mystery within. I’ll happily read any future installments in the Misty Pines Mystery series!

I’m grateful to have read an advanced copy of Hidden Pieces. Thank you to the author Mary Keliikoa, and the publishers at Level Best Books and NetGalley for this opportunity.

*This review has been shared with Barnes and Noble and cross-posted to Goodreads.

I found Hidden Pieces to be a complete page turner of a story. It was fast paced and had enough twists and turns to keep me interested and had an ending I did not see coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

An interesting book in the first of a mystery series about a missing teen and a community tied together by a similar case 25 years ago. A 14 year old girl, Allison, vanishes after waiting at the bus stop one morning in the small town of Misty Pines. In the cold case, her aunt was a victim after being abducted and the case has haunted Sheriff Jax Turner since.
Jax's daughter lives in agony over his wife leaving him and his 5 year old daughter died of cancer. When he decides to take his own life, he gets a call about a missing teen. He decides to make things right and find the girl before it is too late.
There were a lot of characters leaving me frustrated with mapping out the story. Some characters were sketchy and prime suspects so this kept me involved enough to solve the case and cheer for a resolution for all. I felt sorry for Jax and hoped his guilt over the loss of his family would ease. Most of the time the story stayed on track, and there were times I could see where it was going. A twist shook me out of the lull which bumped it to a 3.5*.
It was a great start for the series and the atmosphere in Oregon drove the story. The note from the author clues you into how the story came to fruition. I'm excited to see what can be stirred up in this little town next.
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Level Best Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this surprising and coiled mystery. There are so many twists and turns that actually kept me guessing, and I can honestly say I never saw the ending coming! Mary Keliikoa has given us a protagonist that is so relatable and easy to root for-- and when I saw this was the first in a series I was so excited to know his story wasn't ending!

We meet sheriff Jax Turner as he is quite literally staring down the barrel of a gun. He has lost his daughter, is burdened by the mistakes of crimes unresolved, and has a strained relationship with the town he has sworn to serve and protect. Jax is done... until he isn't. He receives a call that a teenager has been abducted and instantly feels the call to right the wrong of another missing (but found dead) teen years ago. The plot thickens as Jax learns of connections between the two cases, and he suddenly finds himself dredging up the past-- including his own personal ties that he thought were severed forever.

Jax encounters many misdeeds throughout Misty Pines in his search for Allison. His leads come up with nothing truly substantial until he is joined by psychiatrist Elena Massey. Her connection to the crisis opens the investigation wider and wider until both of them are swallowed into it. The chase into the dark becomes a race against time as Allison's hours away from home mount. This detective (well, sheriff) story turned psychological thriller is sure to grab your attention and keep you hooked until the case is solved!

Hidden Pieces by Mary Keliikoa is a real page-turner. I found myself rooting for Jax, the sheriff dealing with his own haunted past as he searched for an abducted teen.

This is a hard book to review! The first ~50%: 1.5-2 stars. The next ~40%: 3 stars. The last ~10%: 3.5-4 stars.

The first half was boring, slow and repetitive to me. I didn't need or want to read over and over the detective's thoughts about how he didn't know who was responsible for the crime or what he should do next - that's why I was reading.

The part that I struggled to get through the most was reading pages describing the detective drawing arrows between names on a white board and scribbling on a white board and then being reminded about what's scribbled on the white board.

My last grievance was two characters talking in a different language without explaining what's said or enough context.

It picks up a bit at about 60%, gets interesting and reads better with a moving plot. By the last 10% I was hooked and then came a major twist, which I can't say more about other than I was honestly surprised.

Suspend belief is neccesary.

I wouldn't read the next book in the series if there was one, but this book did redeem itself a bit.

I am a fast paced thriller / crime / police procedural fan, so this book may definitely be for you if you like police procedurals that are not so fast moving (also should not it is confusing with so many characters!).

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with the abduction of a teenage girl. When this happened Jax, the sheriff, had just arrived at the beach when he received a call. Jax had been depressed and life didn't seem to have a meaning for him since his daughter died of cancer 5 years ago. Jax had a burst of energy and headed to the location where the teenager went missing. After initiating a search and without having any success it reminded him of a case that he was involved in earlier where he wasn't able to find a killer who had killed one of the abducted girls. Jax thought that if he was able to solve this one then he would feel better. As it turned out, this case bore a lot of similarities to that one.

Follow the story as Jax pursues the individual and see what events he uncovered in doing so. Learn how a person from his past was able to lead to who he believed was responsible. The conclusion of this story is one you would never have thought of happening

This definitely a book that you must read.